If im not mistaken only if your engine is GDI, had accumulated more than 50k mileage, getting bad fuel economy and loosing power.

If still using the standard fuel injection, not really.

yes of course get it wrong and there'll be hell. But competent mechanic can do this correctly.

But as others had said, GDI engines are very prone to carbon buildup due to the design of the engine.

If you're worried about the walnut getting into the cylinder, the valves are either close, or open. No in between half close/open so unless the mechanic is dumb and forgetful as f, chances of getting this wrong is pretty low to be honest.

Also if few bits of are accidentally missed out during the cleaning, it won't really do much harm to the engine (from what i've seen).

from where i read somewhere in bimmer forums, BMW in USA is apparently offering this service for their customers with GDI engines.


Omg why so salty you had tried this with any of your car and got screwed over is it? if yes, please do share the details so that we can avoid the workshop.

This post has been edited by axtray: Mar 20 2019, 04:21 PM

the thing is, it is called preventive maintenance. Why would you want to wait until the bigger symtoms such as misfirings, jerking etc to finally go and fix it? In the long run, it may be potentially more expensive repair.

Not exactly the same. There's alot of difference in treating early detected cancer as compared to trying to treat it when it's already at stage 4 etc.

Same goes with the car. If you open the intake manifold and can see the carbon buildup is already there, why not do something about it? No one is stupid enough to do it and waste $$ if it's still clean.

If you have the spare cash to totally overhaul it, by all means do it. Walnut blasting is just the cheaper alternative that works. Your example on the blasting made it sound like it is totally abrasive when the walnut shells are pretty soft. If some of the grains do somehow managed to get into the cylinder, the combustion will just burn them out. Big difference to sand blasting. Also, If the valves are closed and the walnut still somehow managed to find its way in, then something is really wrong with the engine already.

I still find it weird on why you are so edgy about this.

To those who don't know the process,
"This blasting tool is using pressurised air (usually 6-8 bar) to inject fine walnut shell granules into the intake tract. These granules hit the carbonising at high speed and thus remove it entirely, while at the same time this material is soft enough not to damage the metal of the intake tract and the valves. That is also the reason why no other material should be used for this method."

This post has been edited by axtray: Mar 21 2019, 12:05 AM

wow our racer guy is still at it. is he a an overhaul mechanic losing business because of walnut blasting service is now available or something?

He seems to believe that the granules are so fine that it will start sticking to the cylinder wall and becomes some sort of additional coating (if some managed to get in that is). From what i see, the little bits of granules/grains would just get mixed up with the petrol during the intake and compression and burnt off.

If the intake valves are so caked to the point that it cannot be fully closed, just proceed with the overhaul. At the end of the day, it just a cheaper preventive maintenance alternative (with some risk if handled by incompetent mechanic).

From what i read in the bimmer forums, alot of N54 engine owners complaining that the carbon buildup is already pretty bad at 40,000 miles (64,000 KM). Though this is 10+ years old engine. Not sure about the new crop of GDIs.

Seafoam bought from lazada? or is there physical shop? this is the one where you spray into the intake manifold for 5 minutes (or until the can is empty) while lightly revvving the engine right?

from the thread you mentioned that Ace Hardware has it? i just went there last weekend (the curve), they don't carry seafoam products. Unless i'm blind. Ill check it again.